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Elements and Performance Criteria

Required Skills

Required skills

Required skills include

recognising common types of environmental monitoring instruments and the advantages disadvantages and limitations of their use

locating interpreting and comparing information about environmental monitoring instruments

selecting suitable instruments by analysing factors such as intended use fixedportable laboratoryfield range of parameters accuracy sensitivity response time robustness serviceability and limitations

conducting preuse and calibration checks troubleshooting common faults conducting basic repairs and maintaining the enterprises monitoring instruments

safely operating the enterprises monitoring instruments to obtain reliable data

processing and analysing measurement and uncertainty data

interpreting manuals and writing operating instructions for monitoring instruments

seeking advice when issuesproblems are beyond scope of competenceresponsibility

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes

environmental monitoring terms and concepts and measurement parameters

procedures for conducting surveys monitoring sampling and insitu measurements

instrumentation terms and concepts such as operating voltage accuracy response time sensitivity detection limit linearity and instrument uncertainty

characteristics capabilities limitations function of key components and operating principles for monitoring instruments used in the enterprise

role and importance of regular calibration and preuse checks and maintenance

common instrument faults troubleshooting recommended remedial actions and repairs

common instrument operator errors

relevant health safety and workplace emergency response procedures

Evidence Required

Overview of assessment

Competency must be demonstrated in the ability to perform consistently at the required standard

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Assessors must be satisfied that the candidate can competently and consistently apply the skills covered in this unit of competency in new and different situations and contexts Critical aspects of assessment and evidence include

selecting monitoring instruments that will enable the enterprise to successfully implement its environmental management plan

maintaining sufficient numbers of fully functioning instruments to satisfy the enterprises predictable requirements

training instrument operators to use monitoring instruments safely and reliably

maintaining accurate and complete records

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or a simulated workplace environment

Assessment should emphasise a workplace context and procedures found in the candidates workplace

This unit of competency may be assessed with

MSS series units dealing with coordination of specific environmental management activities eg water air and noise

The competencies covered by this unit would be demonstrated by an individual working alone or as part of a team

Resources may include

environmental management plans

environmental monitoring specifications manuals and instruments

enterprise procedures for procurement of equipment and materials

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested

review of records of instrument selection use and maintenance generated by the candidate

feedback from peers and manager that working instruments are available when required

review of instrument training materialsrecords generated by candidate

oralwritten tests and calculations involving environmental parameters setup calibration and basic maintenance of environmental monitoring instruments

observation of the candidate checking using and maintaining monitoring instruments andor instructing others in their use

In all cases practical assessment should be supported by questions to assess underpinning knowledge and those aspects of competency which are difficult to assess directly

Where applicable reasonable adjustment must be made to work environments and training situations to accommodate ethnicity age gender demographics and disability

The language literacy and numeracy demands of assessment should not be greater than those required to undertake the unit of competency in a worklike environment

Guidance information for assessment

Range Statement

Codes of practice	Where reference is made to industry codes of practice, and/or Australian/international standards, it is expected the latest version will be used
Legislation, standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements	Legislation, standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements may include: federal legislation, such as: Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 Australian Heritage Council Act 2003 Native Title Act 1993 state/territory government legislation and regulations and local government by-laws, policies, and plans dealing with: land use, acquisition, planning and protection environmental protection cultural/heritage protection vegetation management nature conservation and wildlife/plant protection water and water management soil conservation pollution and contaminated sites fisheries, forestry and mining operations Australian and international standards, such as: AS 3550 series Water analysis AS/NZS 3580 series Methods for sampling and analysis of ambient air AS/NZS 2922 Guide for the siting of sampling units (air monitoring) AS 1055 series Acoustics - Description and measurement of environmental noise AS IEC 61672.1:2004 Electroacoustics - Sound level meters - Specifications AS IEC 61672.2:2004 Electroacoustics - Sound level meters - Pattern evaluation tests AS IEC 60942:2004 Electroacoustics - Sound calibrators AS/NZS 4323.3:2001 Stationary source emissions - Determination of odour concentration by dynamic olfactometry environmental management plans, and site information about applicable legislative requirements and approval requirements information about site processes and work schedules monitoring/inspection procedures and management actions to prevent/control environmental impacts or risks sampling and in-situ measurement procedures (e.g. water, air, noise and soils)
Environmental monitoring instruments	Environmental monitoring instrumentsmay include: water quality measuring instruments, such as: specific meters or multi-probes for measuring water parameters, such as dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, pH, turbidity, nitrates, phosphates and temperature field test kits to determine water parameters, such as dissolved gases, chemical anions and cations, heavy metals, E. coli and biological oxygen demand (BOD) portable colorimeters and field microscopes air monitoring instruments, such as: air sampling pumps, flow meters and sampling trains continuous gas monitors tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM) portable gas monitors and analysers weather stations odour monitoring instruments, such as dynamic olfactometers noise monitoring instruments, such as: type 1 and type 2 portable sound level meters integrating and non-integrating sound level meters noise dose meters statistical analysers sound monitoring stations data loggers, recorders, telemetry equipment and global positioning system (GPS) radiation instruments and survey meters, such as: Geiger-Muller (beta and gamma) scintillation (alpha, beta and gamma)
Environmental management plans	Environmental management plans provide a framework for managing all environmental aspects, impacts, risks and obligations relevant to a site, project or significant work activity. They may include: an aim, vision and enterprise policy statement roles and responsibilities potential environmental issues actions to avoid, remedy and mitigate the issues procedures and forms to minimise and manage specific environmental impacts and risks quality management plans communication and training requirements monitoring schedules, sampling/test procedures, and analysis and notification requirements (e.g. exceedance values and quality triggers) auditing and reporting requirements
Environmental monitoring programs	Environmental monitoring programsmay include surveys, sampling and measurements for: establishing baseline or quality parameters determining trends in parameters investigating causes for changes in parameters identifying and quantifying contamination at specific locations identifying sources of possible/actual contamination determining the effectiveness of environmental management plans, actions and control measures determining the effectiveness of remediation activities
Specifications and features of instruments	Specifications and features of instrumentsmay include: types of sampling and/or measurements to be performed parameters or analytes of interest detector type, sensitivity and detection limits response time linearity estimated uncertainty for each range single or multi-probe functions ease of interfacing with data loggers and computers power and battery requirements size, weight, robustness and portability instrument operating conditions
Adult learning principles	Adult learning principles may include: explaining aims and objectives of training program linking learning with everyday work tasks using a logical sequence of learning activities presenting new information in manageable chunks providing opportunities to practise new skills and solve common problems reinforcing important points using a range of questions to check understanding providing regular, constructive feedback
Regular instrument checks and minor maintenance	Regular instrument checks and minor maintenance may include: cleaning battery checks and replacement zero, span and range checks use of one or more references to check calibration/response in each range adjustment of calibration if authorised to do so simple fault-finding using instrument manual, error codes and recommended remedial actions
Required records	Required records may include details of: purchase records, warranties and service agreements for instruments instrument calibration status instrument inspection (faults, servicing and repairs) instrument use (operator, time/date, location) instrument maintenance schedule and records
Occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental management requirements	OHS and environmental management requirements: all operations must comply with enterprise OHS and environmental management requirements, which may be imposed through state/territory or federal legislation - these requirements must not be compromised at any time all operations assume the potentially hazardous nature of samples and require standard precautions to be applied where relevant, users should access and apply current industry understanding of infection control issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and State and Territory Departments of Health